I so appreciate the way your writing unfolds and flows brilliantly! Thanks for sharing your journey and for empathetically relating & supporting those that don't "fit into the mold" many wish to only see. I too, always wanted to be a professional dancer. I know make sure to dance as often as I can-even if it is at our local Y-it brings such joy to move and be with other people!
Oh my. The formation of one’s path in life. Such a great writing prompt. The teacher in you lives on! Perhaps a few in your community would be interested in a writing course next winter.
I find it fascinating how much we have in common.
For the sake of brevity:
As a small child, I loved to play school but my doll - students frustrated me and I would yell at them. Probably would not have been good with live students. I realize I am not a patient teacher. Ha!
In grade school, I wanted to be a folk guitarist (art coupled with social justice)
Then, I wanted to be a dancer. Modern jazz was a new thing and sounded like the vehicle to express the suppressed expression inside of me
Then came my secret attempt at Poet, sitting on old stone walls reflecting on the melancholy of unexpressed desire
A longing desire in early HS to become a Flower child living in Vermont crafting stained glass windows and silver jewelry
Transitioned to a college focus in 11th grade to become a physical therapist working with brain injured children after volunteering at a clinic for such.
Instead, Hitch hiked across the country with my best friend 3 dayszafter graduation.
Left myself replicating the lost feeling I felt growing up in my home, that was deeply affected by the resultant trauma on my father from serving on the front lines of World War II
Waitress for 20 years which became its own lively form of entertainment.
One year of court reporter school. Dang; can I ever type! Yet, not for me. Too rote and I don’t like the legal system. But I was tokd: I was good!
Becoming a wife and mother. Yet, feeling there’s “something more.”
My own collusion with trauma and then divine intervention into emotional healing for all the trauma I was exposed to in life which set a trajectory of deeper identity development. My counseling experiences began to uncover the lost parts of me.
2 years performing in local dinner show theatre. Great utilization of my very animated personality and the cure for hiding myself from the world. I have talent!
Lay counselor in the faith community. Sharing with others the compassion I found
Renaissance of a college education through community college where I discovered, I CAN be!
My BA in Communication uncovered the writing gift in me. Yet, the call to become a therapist was louder. Somehow. Yet, conflicted.
Currently, in my 35th year as a mental health practioner taking every aspect of my own experiences as well as in depth training into my practice. Really, as a therapist, I am the encourager, mentor, guide, and uncover-er of the great things hidden inside those I counsel. I love people. Growing up with strong affliations to Italian and French Canadian culture, cultivated an affinity towards really understanding our differences from an anthropological view. Is there such a word?
My work as a psychotherapist has been a richly rewarding experience for me. Guided by my own redeemed pain.
Now actively in transition to open up space for the very patient writer in me that now has the experiences of a rich, full life. I feel a very deep conviction to allow her a chance at her dreams. Yet, as my creative teacher once said, “There is much talent in this world; yet often unfulfilled.”
Thanks for the writing prompt. I’d do well to proceed.
Love this essay and what you open up to us in this space. You are an inspiration. A true teacher.
I continue to amazed at how our paths are similar! And after all these years of friendship, I can learn something new about you. Court reporter? Had no idea! Thank you for sharing your journey.
Sue, how wonderful that you could empower others with your experience and wisdom. I think it’s really important to give ourselves permission to change our minds about something, as well.
Your essay is like those Russian Maroshka dolls. Each experience is followed by another until I think the end of re-creation is near and yet there are more.
My experience is similar. I am pre-wired for change by growing up in a military family moving often. I attended college, as expected, and chose something I enjoyed with no thought to future employment. At 22, all I'd done is move frequently, go to school and work an assortment of summer and part-time jobs. It was glad to graduate and leave school.
I became a claims adjuster realizing I disliked sitting in the same spot talking on the phone day after day. Tried working at a radio station, married a coworker, and became a mother in 2 short years. Divorced after 6 years, back to school 3 years then a healthcare career, remarriage and 30 more years gone by. I'm retired now and wonder about opportunities missed because I didn't see clearly and had little guidance or experience . A mentor would have been such a gift. My parents said little as they had gotten too much parental guidance/interference. Life is good but feels incomplete.
Thank you for sharing your journey. I think mentors can truly make a difference. But I don't think parents are always the best ones for the job. I, too, wonder how my life might have been different if I had a mentor in my youth. Thank you for sharing your journey.
I so appreciate the way your writing unfolds and flows brilliantly! Thanks for sharing your journey and for empathetically relating & supporting those that don't "fit into the mold" many wish to only see. I too, always wanted to be a professional dancer. I know make sure to dance as often as I can-even if it is at our local Y-it brings such joy to move and be with other people!
Oh my. The formation of one’s path in life. Such a great writing prompt. The teacher in you lives on! Perhaps a few in your community would be interested in a writing course next winter.
I find it fascinating how much we have in common.
For the sake of brevity:
As a small child, I loved to play school but my doll - students frustrated me and I would yell at them. Probably would not have been good with live students. I realize I am not a patient teacher. Ha!
In grade school, I wanted to be a folk guitarist (art coupled with social justice)
Then, I wanted to be a dancer. Modern jazz was a new thing and sounded like the vehicle to express the suppressed expression inside of me
Then came my secret attempt at Poet, sitting on old stone walls reflecting on the melancholy of unexpressed desire
A longing desire in early HS to become a Flower child living in Vermont crafting stained glass windows and silver jewelry
Transitioned to a college focus in 11th grade to become a physical therapist working with brain injured children after volunteering at a clinic for such.
Instead, Hitch hiked across the country with my best friend 3 dayszafter graduation.
Left myself replicating the lost feeling I felt growing up in my home, that was deeply affected by the resultant trauma on my father from serving on the front lines of World War II
Waitress for 20 years which became its own lively form of entertainment.
One year of court reporter school. Dang; can I ever type! Yet, not for me. Too rote and I don’t like the legal system. But I was tokd: I was good!
Becoming a wife and mother. Yet, feeling there’s “something more.”
My own collusion with trauma and then divine intervention into emotional healing for all the trauma I was exposed to in life which set a trajectory of deeper identity development. My counseling experiences began to uncover the lost parts of me.
2 years performing in local dinner show theatre. Great utilization of my very animated personality and the cure for hiding myself from the world. I have talent!
Lay counselor in the faith community. Sharing with others the compassion I found
Renaissance of a college education through community college where I discovered, I CAN be!
My BA in Communication uncovered the writing gift in me. Yet, the call to become a therapist was louder. Somehow. Yet, conflicted.
Currently, in my 35th year as a mental health practioner taking every aspect of my own experiences as well as in depth training into my practice. Really, as a therapist, I am the encourager, mentor, guide, and uncover-er of the great things hidden inside those I counsel. I love people. Growing up with strong affliations to Italian and French Canadian culture, cultivated an affinity towards really understanding our differences from an anthropological view. Is there such a word?
My work as a psychotherapist has been a richly rewarding experience for me. Guided by my own redeemed pain.
Now actively in transition to open up space for the very patient writer in me that now has the experiences of a rich, full life. I feel a very deep conviction to allow her a chance at her dreams. Yet, as my creative teacher once said, “There is much talent in this world; yet often unfulfilled.”
Thanks for the writing prompt. I’d do well to proceed.
Love this essay and what you open up to us in this space. You are an inspiration. A true teacher.
I continue to amazed at how our paths are similar! And after all these years of friendship, I can learn something new about you. Court reporter? Had no idea! Thank you for sharing your journey.
Sue, how wonderful that you could empower others with your experience and wisdom. I think it’s really important to give ourselves permission to change our minds about something, as well.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Hi Sandi,
Thanks for your comment. I agree - changing our minds and being true to our feelings is the right path to follow, even when it can be terrifying.
Your essay is like those Russian Maroshka dolls. Each experience is followed by another until I think the end of re-creation is near and yet there are more.
My experience is similar. I am pre-wired for change by growing up in a military family moving often. I attended college, as expected, and chose something I enjoyed with no thought to future employment. At 22, all I'd done is move frequently, go to school and work an assortment of summer and part-time jobs. It was glad to graduate and leave school.
I became a claims adjuster realizing I disliked sitting in the same spot talking on the phone day after day. Tried working at a radio station, married a coworker, and became a mother in 2 short years. Divorced after 6 years, back to school 3 years then a healthcare career, remarriage and 30 more years gone by. I'm retired now and wonder about opportunities missed because I didn't see clearly and had little guidance or experience . A mentor would have been such a gift. My parents said little as they had gotten too much parental guidance/interference. Life is good but feels incomplete.
Thank you for sharing your journey. I think mentors can truly make a difference. But I don't think parents are always the best ones for the job. I, too, wonder how my life might have been different if I had a mentor in my youth. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Lovely piece. Thanks for sharing your story.